SOC103 Research Essay Guidelines

SOC103 Research Essay Guidelines

Research Essay

(for details see course outline)

Structure and Organization (3 marks): Your paper should include the following components:

 Title Page(Use APA Guidelines)

 Introduction

 Content

 Critical Sociological Analysis

 Conclusion

 References

Research Essay

(for details see course outline)

1. Introduction (including Thesis Statement):

Give information about the subject (some significant facts from your literature), statistics (if required); Its importance and how you would argue (example-institutional, societal or individual level); What theories will you be using to support your argument; Thesis statement (Please italicize the thesis statement).

Example of Thesis/Argument Statement :

Topic: Trans-Identities and Education System

Invisibility of ‘trans-identities’ within our education system is a consequence of the continued normative social construction of gender, ensured through their exclusion from school curriculum’s, as role models and by perpetuating moral panic around marginalized identities.

Topic: Gender and Violence

I contend that gender inequality perpetuates gender violence and is an outcome of the perceived threat to the gendered world and therefore used as a mechanism to re-establish and reproduce patriarchal order.

Topic: Gender and Families

I argue that families as an institution are both gendered and gendering, legitimizing the existing gender order as functional and desirable.

(Within families individuals learn to reproduce and recreate their gendered worlds, both at an individual and societal level and thus become conduits of the process of gendering).

Topic: Social Construction of Sexuality and Disability

I contend that marginalization of sexuality and sexual behaviors of people with a disability, confers an ‘A-sexual’ or ‘Abnormal’ sexual identity on people with disabilities.
( This process of de-normalization and counter process of ‘A-sexualization’ is carried out at individual, societal and institutional level, thus, isolating and alienating people with disability from their own sexuality).

Example-Construction of ‘self’ as the ‘other’, due to a disability, acts as a restraint in practicing normal sexual behaviors and developing a sexual identity, at an individual level.

 Note: Italicize the thesis/argument statement(Italicize the thesis statement-I require you to makethis exception from the APA guideline).
1

9/13/16
Research Essay

(for details see course outline)

2. Content (13 marks)

Your analysis should address why and how this social problem/issue occurs. Your essay should emphasize HOW this social phenomenon becomes normalized. Examine the social processes by which this social phenomenon occurs and is legitimated in our society as normative.

Avoid relying too heavily on summarizing and /or describing your research sources, or simply describing the problem. Engage the sources.

Clarity of Argument (3 marks): Clearly develop the argument and state it and then use literature and theories to prove the arguments.

Literature (5 marks): Present the literature supporting your thesis/argument. Also discuss the limitations of the literature reviewed.

Theories (5 marks): Use TWO theories to support the argument.

Note: The theories have to be applied not just stated.
Research Essay

(for details see course outline)

3. Critical Sociological Analysis (3 marks)

Critical sociological analysis provides critique of mainstream stereotypes and assumptions.

Note: Use proper in-text citations (APA style)
4. Conclusion (3 marks)

 Make critical connections and discuss within the context of the contemporary society. Discuss potential solutions and you can also include your insights for change (if any).

Note: Do not merely restate or repeat what you have already presented in the content or introduction.

4. References: Use APA style.

Note:

 APA style should be used. Use proper grammar.
 Do not use more than one or two direct quotes. Essay should be written in your own voice. Credit the scholarsto whom the ideas belong.
 Use at leastFIVE scholarly academic sociologicalsources. (Read course outline for greater details ofadmissible and not admissible sources)

 For relevance of the topic within contemporary society, use ofat least three sources from 2008 to 2016isrequired.

The page limit of 4-5 pages should be strictly followed. This excludes the Title Page and References.

Papers are to be Double-spaced, 1 inch margins, Times New Roman, Font 12 pt., Title page and references (APA format) are required. Only stapled papers will be accepted.